Placerville, CA
—And then scroll down for
Form Fiddlers’ Friday, with poetry by
Lynn White, Nolcha Fox,
Stephen Kingsnorth, Caschwa,
Christina Chin, Paul Callus, Joyce Odam,
and Claire J. Baker
HOLIDAY PEACE
Why—on a walking bridge over highway—
do I find a mint-green pacifier?
Maybe it couldn’t comfort the toddler
looking down over transcontinental
holiday traffic, four lanes rushing in
two opposite directions to arrive
faster than anyone to somewhere else.
Why—on a walking bridge over highway—
do I find a mint-green pacifier?
Maybe it couldn’t comfort the toddler
looking down over transcontinental
holiday traffic, four lanes rushing in
two opposite directions to arrive
faster than anyone to somewhere else.
WHAT OTIS WANTS
A not so gentle nudge from behind as I sit
at the computer. Then a nibble.
If I’m deep in writing something, he’ll add
a bark. And another. Bark! Before I knew
better, I’d take it as a threat. Now
I know Otis is bored. How about a little walk
outside, to find what’s sprouting after
all this rain? Indian lettuce is just beginning.
And fungi! packed with nutrients. Let’s
see what kind of mushrooms the darkling
beetle eats. Otis won’t debate
whether the yellow fieldcap is edible
or not; it’s only big enough to feed a beetle,
anyway. And I don’t pick mushrooms
except in the produce aisle.
Brodiaea elegans with visitor
.
WHO’S THE POLLINATOR?
Fighter jet? an arrow?
Insect finds its flower
perfect fit, and bravo!
that’s proboscis power.
(Three Untitled Dua)
giant skeleton as santa—red coat & cap
two young deer together, dead on road
*
broken purple umbrella by the trail
drizzle turns to downpour
*
two swans sail the bulrush pond
coyote left his signature in meadow
SKY-WOMAN
She came to me in a dream last night.
She was blazing-white petal-feathers
on black-black sky between years.
The dog was restless in bed,
barked but didn’t bite. Let loose,
he was silent under the stars.
She said anchor our cattle to earth,
cover our belongings with soil
and remember where we planted.
She said never give up the fight;
move with stealth, and travel light.
She said believe in our land
and what’s just and right.
And then she dissolved to sleep
in dark that was rich and deep.
GRANDMOTHER SUGAR PINE CONFESSES
Children, I’m sorry about the storm,
how I let you, sturdy young limbs, fall
to save the greater family. I had to lighten
our load, or this whole tree might topple
in that terrific wind, along with most
of our neighbors. I mourn
your needled bodies lying at my feet.
May your living seed-cones thrive,
to sprout new children
and keep our line and history going,
our connection with the green community,
its roots; keeping lore and heritage alive.
____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
ARS POETICA 1325
—Taylor Graham
Before I knew better, thoughts
wrapped up in throngs of adjectives.
Let’s string ‘em up overhead like
yesterday’s banners to be taken down—
and just tell it straight and simple
__________________
Taylor Graham has been hanging out with Sky-Woman, and we thank them for sending us fine poetry and photos today. Forms TG has used this week include the Persona Poem (“Grandmother Sugar Pine Confesses”), which could also be called an Elegy, I think—one of our Triple-F Challenges; some Blank Verse (“Holiday Peace”); an Aisling which is also a Dream Poem (“Sky-Woman”); an Ars Poetica (“Ars Poetica 1325”); a Rinnard (“Who's the Pollinator?"); and three Dua (untitled).
In El Dorado County’s poetry events this week, Poetic License meets in Placerville next Monday morning (1/13), 10:30am. Plus, El Dorado County’s regular workshops are listed on Medusa’s calendar if you scroll down on http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html/. For more news about EDC poetry—past (photos!) and future—see Taylor Graham’s Western Slope El Dorado Poetry on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry. Or see Lara Gularte’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/382234029968077/. And you can always click on Medusa's UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS (http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html). Poetry is Gold in El Dorado County!
And now it’s time for…
FORM FIDDLERS’ FRIDAY!
Check out our recently-refurbed page at the top of Medusa’s Kitchen called, “FORMS! OMG!!!” which expresses some of my (take ‘em or leave 'em) opinions about the use of forms in poetry writing, as well as listing some more resources to help you navigate through Form Quicksand and other ways of poetry. Got any more resources to add to our list? Send them to kathykieth@hotmail.com for the benefit of all man/woman/poetkind!
* * *
Poets who sent responses to last week’s Ekphrastic photo included Lynn White, Nolcha Fox, Stephen Kingsnorth, and Caschwa (Carl Schwartz):
DANCING LIKE GENE
—Lynn White, Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales
“I’ve been dancing in the rain,” you said.
You didn’t need to tell me,
I’d seen you so many times
doing your Gene Kelly thing
and more than looking the part.
The sun is shining now in Italy
and I sit here outside Filiberto’s
watching the dancers in the street
sipping my wine, listening to music,
wondering if it’s raining back home
and wishing I could see you again
doing your Gene Kelly thing
and more than looking the part.
* * *
DANCING, DANCING
—Nolcha Fox, Buffalo, WY
I could dance this year away
on streets of bright confetti,
but you insist we must go home
to watch your football game.
* * *
TANGO FRIEZE
—Stephen Kingsnorth, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales
With vibrant colour, portraiture,
their ovals, squares, diagonals,
there corrugated curlicues.
Organic creep through terraced black,
rails steely ’gainst its cage surround,
over that palette, hinterland.
See juxta, formal overlaid,
above a lower would-be stirred,
but rigid, frigid, sampler stance.
But if it’s danced, near body faced,
the cut and thrust of entwined legs,
eyes fierce, aflame to match below.
The last in Paris, not so here,
but ‘folke arte’, street of Mexico,
the chain of Filiberto loosed.
A scene for garish, wall to grey,
no curb when heels take road as stage,
this traffic, tables entertained.
Accordion and strings play chords,
this bar as threshold, thrash and hold,
a balanced note of wild with staid.
Here’s geometric, angular,
stiff passion in cool statuesque,
a frozen moment, mass and speed.
Provocative in dancing style,
knee bends engroined by plié set,
a bond enforced in willing pair.
Where’s frisson, potent, in the frame,
as fiery splash, or flash implied?
Or is the drab what artist knew?
* * *
A FEW CHANGES
—Caschwa, Sacramento, CA
Franz von Suppé first wrote
a rather strong, painful piece,
the Root Canal Overture, then
softened it up a bit with the
Light Cavity Overture, finally
after further editing, arrived at
the Light Cavalry Overture
Al Jolson eschewed the darkness
of tunnel vision, moved to the
brighter vision of 7 Angels and 7
Trumpets (Revelation 8:2–11:19),
then penned “I Dream of Jeannie with
the Light Brown Hair”
Whitney Houston, though her life was
hopelessly trapped in the tunnel of drug
addiction, gloriously shined the light of
her abundant talent on her flawless
rendition of our National Anthem at the
Super Bowl XXV in Tampa
* * *
Carl has sent us a clever Double Acrostic (first letter and first word):
TRY AGAIN
—Caschwa
Every day I add more and more
Forbidden items to my diet, today
Fruit Juice consumed right from the bottle
Only large portions will do, and it
Ripens my appetite by assigning
Temptations an executive role
* * *
This poem from Carl was triggered by a statement of mine that our rainy day was “…not a good day to work in the garden…” It’s in the form of xAxA xBxB xCxC (I like "rabbits" and "habits")—we could call this a Nonce Ekphrastic, I suppose. (See below for links to that loose woman, the Nonce.) Here is Carl’s poem:
—Caschwa
Every day I add more and more
Forbidden items to my diet, today
Fruit Juice consumed right from the bottle
Only large portions will do, and it
Ripens my appetite by assigning
Temptations an executive role
* * *
This poem from Carl was triggered by a statement of mine that our rainy day was “…not a good day to work in the garden…” It’s in the form of xAxA xBxB xCxC (I like "rabbits" and "habits")—we could call this a Nonce Ekphrastic, I suppose. (See below for links to that loose woman, the Nonce.) Here is Carl’s poem:
THE WEEDS USED TO KNOW ME
—Caschwa
the weeds used to know me
by first name
so proud to display their growth
hence my shame
and then the rains visited
increased like rabbits
forced me to stop some of
my daily habits
lawn tools now kept high and dry
in the backyard shed
while I stay safely inside
asleep in my bed
* * *
Collaborators Christina Chin (Malaysia) and Paul Callus (Malta) have re-joined us with three Tan-Renga:
THREE TAN-RENGA
—Collaborations from Christina Chin and Paul Callus
tell-tale signs
a strand of long black hair
and last night’s perfume
hitting the jealousy button
of a suspicious mind
—Collaborations from Christina Chin and Paul Callus
tell-tale signs
a strand of long black hair
and last night’s perfume
hitting the jealousy button
of a suspicious mind
—Christina Chin / Paul Callus (Italics)
* * *
huddled
in an enclosed lake
lily pads in bloom
intense pink fills
the harvest boat
—Paul Callus (italics) / Christina Chin
* * *
winter solstice
sunny and frosty
freedom and peace
on the political stage
dramatic choreography
—Christina Chin / Paul Callus (Italics)
* * *
Joyce Odam has sent us a sad Octo. (Well, the piano is sad, not the robust little Octo):
COLD MUSIC
—Joyce Odam, Sacramento, CA
Haunted night—a sad piano,
winter moon, a tarnished yellow,
lonesome song from some dark window,
cold as love and sad as leaving—
ghost of music always grieving—
lonesome song from some dark window,
winter moon a tarnished yellow,
haunted night—a sad piano.
And here is a whimsical Triolet from Claire Baker:
FANTASY FOR FIREFLIES
—Claire J. Baker, Pinole, CA
I call on childhood’s fireflies
in wintertime to heat the cold—
replace my pulse beats, take a try.
I beckon my childhood’s fireflies
to pulsate, glow and tell no lies—
warm me for a day, be bold.
I summon childhood’s fireflies
in winter fog for heat, I’m cold!
—Claire J. Baker, Pinole, CA
I call on childhood’s fireflies
in wintertime to heat the cold—
replace my pulse beats, take a try.
I beckon my childhood’s fireflies
to pulsate, glow and tell no lies—
warm me for a day, be bold.
I summon childhood’s fireflies
in winter fog for heat, I’m cold!
____________________
Many thanks to today’s writers for their lively contributions! Wouldn’t you like to join them? All you have to do is send poetry—forms or not—and/or photos and artwork to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post work from all over the world, including that which was previously-published. Just remember: the snakes of Medusa are always hungry!
____________________
TRIPLE-F CHALLENGES!
Many thanks to today’s writers for their lively contributions! Wouldn’t you like to join them? All you have to do is send poetry—forms or not—and/or photos and artwork to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post work from all over the world, including that which was previously-published. Just remember: the snakes of Medusa are always hungry!
____________________
TRIPLE-F CHALLENGES!
•••Aisling: https://poets.org/glossary/aisling
•••AND/OR cut loose with a Nonce or two:
•••Nonce: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/nonce-forms-what-they-are-and-how-to-write-them
•••See also the bottom of this post for another challenge, this one an Ekphrastic one.
•••And don’t forget each Tuesday’s Seed of the Week! This week it’s “Brandishing Her Sword”.
____________________
MEDUSA’S FORM FINDER: Links to poetry terms mentioned today:
•••Acrostic Poem types: https://studybay.com/blog/how-to-write-an-acrostic-poem
•••Aisling: https://poets.org/glossary/aisling
•••Ars Poetica: www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/ars-poetica
•••Blank Verse: literarydevices.net/blank-verse AND/OR www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-the-difference-between-blank-verse-and-free-verse#quiz-0
•••Definition Poem: https://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/1105-a-definition-poem
•••Dream Poem: https://www.bing.com/search?q=dream+poem+form&pc=cosp&ptag=C999N1234A316A5D3C6E&form=0A1010&conlogo=CT3210127&showconv=1
•••Dua: a two-line poem with two spaces between each line, no periods and no titles
•••Ekphrastic Poem: notesofoak.com/discover-literature/ekphrastic-poetry
•••Elegy: https://poets.org/glossary/elegy
•••Nonce: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/nonce-forms-what-they-are-and-how-to-write-them
•••Normative Syllabics: hellopoetry.com/collection/108/normative-syllabic-free-verse AND/OR lewisturco.typepad.com/poetics/normative-syllabic-verse
•••Octo: poetscollective.org/poetryforms/octo
•••Persona Poem: https://poets.org/glossary/persona-poem
•••Rinnard: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/rinnard-poetic-forms
•••Tan-renga: https://www.graceguts.com/essays/an-introduction-to-tan-renga
•••Triolet: www.writersdigest.com/personal-updates/triolet-an-easy-way-to-write-8-lines-of-poetry
__________________
—Medusa, sending our thoughts down to our neighbors in Los Angeles during this time of trouble from all those fires~
•••Rinnard: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/rinnard-poetic-forms
•••Tan-renga: https://www.graceguts.com/essays/an-introduction-to-tan-renga
•••Triolet: www.writersdigest.com/personal-updates/triolet-an-easy-way-to-write-8-lines-of-poetry
__________________
—Medusa, sending our thoughts down to our neighbors in Los Angeles during this time of trouble from all those fires~
* * *
Today's Ekphrastic Challenge!
Make what you can of today's
picture, and send your poetic results to
kathykieth@hotmail.com/. (No deadline.)
* * *
Make what you can of today's
picture, and send your poetic results to
kathykieth@hotmail.com/. (No deadline.)
* * *
—Photo Courtesy of Public Domain
For future poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Poets’ bios appear on their first MK visit.
To find previous posts, type the name
of the poet (or poem) into the little
beige box at the top left-hand side
of this column. See also
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom
of the blue column on the right
side of this column to find
any date you want.
Miss a post?
You can find our most recent ones by
scrolling down under this daily one.
Or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column.
(Please excuse typos in older posts!
Blogspot has been through a lot of
incarnations in 20 years!)
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
send poetry and/or photos and artwork
to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Poets’ bios appear on their first MK visit.
To find previous posts, type the name
of the poet (or poem) into the little
beige box at the top left-hand side
of this column. See also
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom
of the blue column on the right
side of this column to find
any date you want.
Miss a post?
You can find our most recent ones by
scrolling down under this daily one.
Or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column.
(Please excuse typos in older posts!
Blogspot has been through a lot of
incarnations in 20 years!)
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
send poetry and/or photos and artwork
to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
